Defense Health Research Consortium (DHRC) Works to Restore Funding for Medical Research at the Department of Defense
 -by Mark Vieth, Senior Vice President The Defense Health Research Consortium (DHRC), created and managed by CRD Associates, is a coalition of scientific research and patient advocacy organizations dedicated to protecting and growing the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). CDMRP is a longstanding bipartisan priority that provides critical grant funding to researchers studying diseases and disorders prevalent among service members, veterans, and their families. CDMRP has not been immune from recent turbulence that has affected the entire federal scientific research enterprise. Buried in the continuing resolution passed by the House of Representatives (p.30, lines 6-7) was a clause included at the request of the Pentagon reducing CDMRP funding to $650 million from the 2024 level of $1.5 billion (a 57 percent cut). As DHRC has pointed out, this cut could have drastic and negative impacts on researchers’ ability to improve therapies for deadly and debilitating diseases and injuries. Additionally, the CR includes no direction to DoD about how money should be spent. This week, DHRC and its members have met personally with dozens of congressional offices, and individual advocates have flooded phone lines and inboxes urging Congress not to make this short-sighted budget cut. The work of DHRC and its member organizations was highlighted in this CQ/Roll Call article. If Congress ultimately reduces CDMRP, which is one of the wisest and most efficient federal investments, DHRC will work feverishly to restore and grow funding in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget and appropriations cycle. Service members, veterans, and their families – and the entire American public – deserve nothing less. |